CHARGERS: Mathews ready for sophomore year

SAN DIEGO — Ryan Mathews spent the moments before his first
professional football game in a Qualcomm Stadium bathroom, puking
his guts out. Anxiety got the best of the Chargers' rookie running
back nearly a year ago, evoking a physical manifestation of the
jitters that take hold before most games.

Mathews didn't have to volunteer that information following the
2010 exhibition opener against Chicago, but he discussed it in
detail following a successful start to his career.

The moment endeared Mathews to Chargers fans, proving this
superior athletic talent was in fact human. It was one of several
from the time Mathews was taken No. 12 overall in the 2010 draft
until the regular season began.

Mathews was an open book at the outset, revealing personal
details to a fanbase seeking an emotional connection with the next
big thing. He talked about the part of his childhood spent living
in a worn-down Cutlass Supreme. He's proclaimed himself an
old-fashioned momma's boy. Mathews said he wore No. 21 at
Bakersfield West High and Fresno State as homage to LaDainian
Tomlinson, the icon he was drafted to replace.

Fans loved his honesty and his imperfections. From April through
August, anyway.

Then it was time to produce. Mathews was expected to be a
rushing robot during the 2010 season, with tireless legs that would
carry the Chargers on to postseason glory.

As we all know, that's not how the story goes.

Mathews struggled with injuries and ball security during a 9-7
campaign that ended without a playoff berth. The fans'
disappointment grew with each mistake, and eventually turned into a
pervading pessimism that carries on to this day.

"Fans expect a lot. They always will," Mathews said Wednesday,
the eve of the Chargers exhibition opener against Seattle. "One
minute they don't like you and the next minute they do. They want
to see what you can do and do it all the time. I know every
Chargers fan wants to see me do well and help the team win.

"They had high expectations for me last year, and I guess I
didn't do what they thought I would do. I worked as hard as I could
throughout the season, and nobody wanted success more than I did.
As everyone knows, some mishaps happened. But I'm back this year,
and I'm healthy and strong.

"We'll see what I can do this time around."

Mathews enters his sophomore season with a fresh outlook, a
year's worth of life lessons in the memory bank and teammates that
support him.

"I don't think the expectations placed on Ryan last season were
unfair," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "That's just part of being
such a high pick. People want instant results, but they forget that
there's a progression to becoming an NFL player. Nobody's perfect
and that's a good thing, because you learn the most from
disappointment. Honestly, Ryan's biggest setback last season wasn't
technical. It was the early injury that took away some physical
tools and kept him from getting in a rhythm. With health and
experience comes progress."

A high ankle sprain suffered in Week 2 against Jacksonville
prevented steady progress and hindered him throughout the season.
Despite the injury, he still led his running back draft class with
678 yards, seven touchdowns and 4.3 yards per carry over 158
rushing attempts. Detractors pointed to his five fumbles, three of
which were lost.

That fumble total, as inexcusable as it was, was better than
Tomlinson's rookie sum. The active poster boy for ball security
fumbled eight times and lost five in his first season, albeit over
398 touches and 1,603 yards from scrimmage. There's no doubt
Tomlinson had a better rookie year than Mathews, but it proves that
he got better over time.

Mathews believes he can do the same.

"I'm a lot more confident, which isn't to say I wasn't last
year," Mathews said. "I just have a much better understanding of
the system and the personnel around me. I'm comfortable within my
role and I believe I can help this team do some special
things."

Mathews' season didn't start with a bang. His lackluster
performance at a surprise training camp conditioning assessment
sent up some red flags, but Mathews has been doing extra running
and Chargers coach Norv Turner believes his young rusher has a
chance to be in the best shape of his life come September.

The Chargers have treated him with kid gloves thus far, but
Mathews wants to play in the preseason — maybe as early as Thursday
— to get primed for games that truly matter.

His technique is far better in practice than a year ago. He runs
lower to the ground and has vastly improved as a receiver and a
pass protector, which should make him a better all-around back. His
teammates say his choices are more instinctual than processed,
which allows his true talent to shine.

"You can tell when he's not over-thinking things, because he
makes runs and cuts that seem supernatural," Rivers said. "He has
so much talent and can do things most other backs can't. If he
stays healthy, people will be impressed. He has the speed, balance
and power to be an excellent running back in this league."

Mathews knows he must prove that in the regular season. He also
knows that doing so will turn Chargers faithful back into fans, but
that's not his motivation for success. Mathews doesn't have much
interest in celebrity. He'd rather remain just outside the
limelight, even if his draft status and lot in life won't allow
it.

"I think I'm just another guy, with a different skill set than
other people do in a profession that's more public than most,"
Mathews said. "I don't look at myself as a star. Playing running
back for the Chargers is my job, and I want to do it exceptionally
well."